Club Obi Wan

Hey guys!

Ok, here it is. I've been working on a project specifically for our Indy fan community and I'd like to see what kind of interest there is in the project.

I had the rare opportunity to acquire an original, deactivated Webley Green 1896 recently. I have a friend who has manufacturing contacts with a gun maker and I'm considering having a run of DEACTIVATED Webley Greens made from my original. I'm thinking of doing a first run of 100 or so. The price isn't nailed down in any way at this time as I'm still collecting the bids. Initially it looks like the price tag will be in the $350-$450 range. I'll know more in a couple of weeks.

Remember, this is NOT A RESIN piece. This will be a ready to go, ACTUAL METAL REPLICA made to the exact original Webley WG specifications but with all moving parts, a barrel plug, and removable dry fire shells. It cannot be made to fire in any way and will require no firearm licenses, only local law enforcement apply.

If this is something you may be interested in, please reply to this post with your interest, as well as any other suggestions or comments on the subject. I am VERY SERIOUS about doing this and am actively working on making it happen. I just want to see what the interest is out there with the real Indy fans.

I KNOW THAT THE GRIPS ARE WRONG!! I HAVE THE CORRECT GRIPS ON ORDER!!!




Thanks,


W.E.
adventureleather@mac.com

Wow... that looks pretty cool, I'm certainly interested. How will this be different from what Rook is putting out?

Rooks piece, while spectacular, is 99% static (only opens up at the hinge) and is made from cold cast resin. Wade's is an ACTUAL METAL REPLICA made to the exact original Webley WG specifications but with all moving parts, a barrel plug, and removable dry fire shells. PM fired to Wade!

ok... thanks for the quick explaination. Much appreciated.

I'd be up for it.

TR

I'm thinking that I might like one.

Hey Wade,

Love the idea, but at $350 - $450; I'm out. For $500 it should fire, it is a revolver after all. Maybe you and Rook could team up for a non-firing version. By the way, beautifull Webley, congrats!

Dan S

I'm in.

wade......where were you 2 years ago?!?!?!

i have a deactivated MKVI webley .455. the way that you are planning to deactivate the piece with just a barrel plug will not fly in canada unfortunately as you still have moving parts. when they deactivated mine, i got the barrel plugged up, the cocking mechanism and cylinder disabled and the breakaway action welded up. according to what i've learned, the gun shop that is taking responsibility for the work does not want to risk having the piece returned to a live gun just by switching some parts around.

our laws on handguns are pretty strict up here. i'd love to partake in your venture but alas.........

Do you need a certain number of people to start this run and once you do start it, what sort of time frame are you looking at?

To answer some of the questions, yes, I am pricing both the blank firing replica and a non-firing replica version. Both feature the full range of moving parts. The non-firing would be manufactured with a barrel that is not bored out. The blank firing version has whatever they use for that (I'm not a firearms expert) to allow the barrel flash and such to occur. The $300-$400 estimate is a neighborhood figure. Of course the non-firing replica will be cheaper, and by the same token the blank firing model may just come out to be $500.

At this point I am pricing both options. I am hoping to hear from some of you guys to see which version you would more likely be interested in. I've searched the world over and have found no Webley replicas aside from the resin types. So, ultimately, that is what I want. A real metal gun which looks and acts exactly like the original.

I will not be taking orders up front, however I may start a list. I'm considering a run of 100 pistols to start, so there should be plenty to go around. I expect I'll have some buyers from some other markets such as gun collectors, etc. If the Webley is successful, I will then go ahead and do 100 Bapty's as well. Actively in the bidding process, I will be able to post regular updates in the coming weeks as to my progress. For now, just let me know what you guys think would be the coolest.

Hope I've answered all of your questions! Rest assured, I have the WG and am working on this actively.


W.E.

metal bapty....

So, are you planning on doing one guy type at a time, or what? Also, once the project starts rolling, what is the time frame you're looking at?


Mike

Yes. First the Webley, then the Bapty. I won't know the lead time from order to delivery until I get the quotes back from the factories. I'll post it as soon as I get it. The quote request went out yesterday. The deactivated original we're using as the sample isn't even here yet.

You guys will be the first to know.


W.E.

Cool. Well, I'll change my maybe to a for sure.
Thanks...


Mike

Count me in.

BTW, would it be easier to have the gun fire caps (a la model guns) than actually blanks? You'd get a sound with no flash. Might bring the price down, too.

RaiderZee

W.E.,

Not to rain on your parade, but are you aware of any laws regarding making the kind of working reproductions you're hoping to build? I know Smith and Wesson would sue if you if they saw you made a gun with their logo and markings on it. Also, I am unaware of any laws which might prohibit you from making them, or at least as functional as you hope to. If you haven't already, it would be worthwhile to investigate what laws or restrictions, if any, exist which could affect this project. I'd just hate for you to end up spending a lot of money down the road only to find you land yourself in hot water. Additionally, as Indiana G is aware in his neck of the woods, potential buyers should be aware of any laws or issues regarding the shipping and buying of such reproductions. It's a very cool idea, but one which needs to be well thought out in all areas. Regards!

RaiderZee wrote:Count me in.

BTW, would it be easier to have the gun fire caps (a la model guns) than actually blanks? You'd get a sound with no flash. Might bring the price down, too.

RaiderZee

RaiderZee... Come on buddy, I don't want to spend that type of money on a cap gun!!!!!

Well it would be better than a non-firing deactivated weapon. Not as good as a blank-firing model, but it might help with some technical/legal issues.

Isn't a blank-firing gun kinda just a cap gun anyway?
RZ

Thank you for your concern! I am working with an actual manufacturer and gun broker on this. It is my understanding that they have all of the information regarding laws and such. For the Webley, it is easier (hence starting with it) because they are no longer in production and considered an antique. The Bapty may prove a little more difficult due to potential S&W infringements as you say. However, I'm being assured that what I want to do with the replica will be handled above board and in accordance with any applicable laws and licensing agreements.

W.E.

Glad to hear you're on top of it.

Oh yeah. I'd definitely like a real non-firing fake Webley prop.

ReturningSon wrote:metal bapty....

My thoughts exactly, metal bapty, I think I would maybe shell it out for that, I think you'll have enough webley takers though as it is tougher to find a decent "stand-in" prop gun methinks. I also think it would be awesome if it fired real bullets, but don't want to encourage illegal activity.

What about the birdshead shape butt end? Do you have measurements from a real gun. The one you have is NOT exactly the right one, but a variation.

hello wadventure, please put me on the list too. I am definetly interested in getting one.

The finished product will have the correct grips. As I stated above the photos, I have the birds head grips on order so it will be exactly like it's supposed to be.

W.E.

I'd be interested, as long as the price is good

Ok... Then let's get the ball rolling!!! Well, maybe it's a little soon for that, but I'm ready.



Mike

Sounds good to me. Put me down, too

Nibs

I hope this pans out.

It's not just the grip panels though, the grip frame is a different shape, unless you're fabricating one from scratch (or the square bottom grip panels actually cover a birds head style frame).

Also, you'll need to fabricate or locate the right side detail piece as well to be "screen close."

Sounds like a neat project, wish I had your contacts! I had looked into this as well, but couldn't find
an affordable way to get the parts made with the level of detail and metal quality I wanted
for a price that wouldn't put me in the poorhouse.

Any idea what kind of metal these will be made from?

Russ

All of the correct INDY GUN specs and photos have been sent to the manufacturers. I won't approve the piece unless it's 100% exact. I've been assured that the company has done this before and it will not be difficult to get what I want.

So, yes, the final product will be Screen Accurate as can be. Other than that, no updates as of today.


W.E.

Another question for you.

If it does fire blanks, are you thinking about the commonly found 8mm blanks, or the .455 crimped Webley blanks that can also be had?

Russ

I'm intending to go all the way with the .455 blanks. They are basically making a real one, and then plugging the barrel for blanks. I'm not a gun guy anymore (thanks California) so my partner is handling the specifics with the firearms. I'm working on some other things I will reveal shortly. I just gave them all of the photos and info along with the WG we procured (which is close, but not all the way there). So hopefully I hear back soon with some good news.

In checking on doing a Bapty, it will not be possible to have the S&W logo and other identifying marks put on at the factory as that would infringe on their copyright (which they still hold). But we'll see. Times they are a changin...


W.E.

Wade, Remember I have a SA real WG right here in LA. So if you need any more reference shots just let me know!

Any word on this?????????


Mike

I might be interested in this, although I could almost buy a real one for that price! (Ok, not a Green, but certainly a real revolver!)

Still no word/update on this????


Mike

Here's an update on the situation.

We've got the correct grips and all the rest of the specs. [Thanks Indiana Bond ]

We are now waiting for our agent to give us the quote breakdown from the manufacturers we are working with. I have no idea how long this will take. We are not doing a giant run so we're hardly a priority for them at the moment, but my people are very persistent.

It's like nothing I've ever gone after before....


Don't worry gents, I'm on it.


W.E.

Would ABSOLUTELY be interested in an all-metal replica!!!

Wade, I don't know how I've been missing this thread. I may be interested in the Webley, but Raiders would almost be a definite. I don't know why this place gets so excited about the Bapty, but if you were to do a Stembridge, that would be awesome. I think it looks so much better and is my favorite.

Mike

Color me interested.

I'm all in!

Any updates?

Russ

6-13-2009

Ok guys. I have now gotten word back from three of the four manufacturer's we contacted about doing a Webley replica. Unfortunately, none of them were willing to take on a small run of labor intensive reproductions. We went back and forth with each of them talking about specifics and the biggest problem are the laws surrounding import/export of firearms or firearm reproductions and the minimums required for this type of a run. Let me tell you , it was expensive! But there may still be some hope.

So, since one of the manufacturer's is willing to produce but at a high minimum, I am going to work on a couple of other projects prior to undertaking the 'Webley Project' to save up capitol for a larger run of the pistols. Not so sure there's much of a market for these outside of Indy fans and the various re-enactment groups, but the Webley hold a special place in my heart and will be an ongoing 'pet project' for me.

I'm glad to see that there is much interest, but at this point things are at a stand still.


I will, of course, post any updates or changes in the project. In the meantime, keep an eye out for some other cool stuff I will be releasing this summer.


W.E.

Well, I for one appreciate the amount of time and effort you put into this. If there is a glimmer of hope, count me in. I'd even be willing to get two, if it would help the effort.

Mike